Boundless Gratitude: Songs of the month

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)
• MP3 play whole song, lo-fi (modem)

This is the first song I ever wrote, back in 1979. It's also the first song on the first CD that I ever made: Musical Storytelling (back in 2000) which just happens to re-release on CD Baby today, my birthday. So it's one of two free download songs this week. This is also my original recording of it.

Back in 2000, when I first released it, I tried to remember what I was thinking in 1979 when I originally wrote the song. Here are those thoughts:

"Young African-American father, military officer, Navy Pilot, maybe someday an astronaut… wondering, exactly how. Pledged to defend a nation that at the time was defending the policy of apartheid in South Africa. Taking responsibility, yet feeling deep inside more like an ant than a leader, defender, protector. But still knowing somehow, someway it’s gonna work. Just stay true to the goal, and the ant’s gonna cross the universe."

Enjoy.

Chorus:
An ant’s gonna cross the universe.
Press on sweet ant, press on.
To satisfy an insatiable thirst.
Trudge on sweet ant, trudge on.
No time to figure how to get there first.
Drift on sweet ant, drift on.
But if he stays here, it can only get worse.
Right on sweet ant, right on.

Verse 1:
Ant’s the smallest fella that I can see.
Universe the largest place I know to be.
But that ant’s gotta cross it, if he wanna be free.
Drift on sweet ant, drift on.

Verse 2:
He don’t know what’s on the other side.
It’s definitely nowhere to just go and hide.
But he do know it gonna be a heck of a ride.
Drift on sweet ant, drift on.

Chorus

Verse 3:
No ground to walk on, no air to breathe.
No ant hills to sleep in, no other ants to greet.
Ain’t a darn thing up there but a very cool breeze.
Drift on sweet ant, drift on.

Bridge:
Ant takes a giant quantum leap
And breaks loose from the earth.
There ain’t no turnin’ back now
So just stroke for all you’re worth.
Go forth in search of God and Love
And celebrate your birth.

Chorus